Production of continuous electric arcs and apparatus therefor.



'F. H. A. WIELGOLASKI &'0. SGH'0'NHERR1 PRODUCTION OF oommuous ELECTRIC ARCS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

7 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1910. 1,028,5 1 6.

Patented June 4, 1912.

2 alarms-sum 1.

F. H. A. WIELGOLASKI & 0. SGHUNHEBR.

PRODUCTION OF CONTINUOUS ELECTRIC ARCS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION 11,111) MAR. 12, 1910.

1,028,516, v Patentd June 4,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wifiwwoco 5 140a Wrote UNITED STATES.

PATENT re.

FRANZ -H. A. WIE'LGOLASKI AND OTTO SCHUNHERR, 0F CHRISTIANIA, NClRWAY, ASSIGNORS TO BADISCHE ANILIN & SODA FABBIK, OF LUDWIGSHAFEN-ON-THE RHINE, GERMANY, A CORPORATION.

PRODUCTION OF CONTINUOUS ELECTRIC ARCS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June a, 1912.

Application filed March 12, 1910.. Serial No. 548,957.

To all whom it may concern Be 1t known'that' we, FRANZ HENRIK .AUBERT WIELGOLASKI, engineer, and Or'ro said patent is described the production ofa long electric are inside a tube fitted with an electrode by passing a current of air or other gas along the tube. lVe have now discovered a process and apparatus therefor for producing continuous electric arcs in which the arc is not situated or not entirely situated along the central axis of the tube, but from the periphery of the furnace toward the center thereof.

lVe carry out our invention by providing the furnace with one or more peripheral electrodes and by blowing a suitable fluid, which we shall hereinafter refer to for the sake of convenience as air, from openings at or near the periphery of the furnace and by provided with an electrode situated at or toward the center thereof, or if such central electrode is not present one of the other peripheral electrodes or the wall of the furnace -may act in its stead forming that part on which the electrode ends.

For instance the wall at this point may be drawn out into the form of a tube into which the end of thearc enters. In the above cases the peripheral electrode and the wall of thefurnace respectively are equivalent to the central electrode. We are now able to produce one or more arcs in one furnace in such a manner that the gases as they near the center of the furnace are brought into intimatecontact with the arcs immediately before they are removed from the furnace. This is of great advantage for carrying out exothermic reactions in gases, such for instance as the production of oxids of nitrogen from the air. It is also further an advantage that the gases possess the greatest velocity at the point where the electric arc requires the greatest power to divert its course. be disk-shaped, or it may possess the shape of a cone, or it may be spherical, or of any other suitable shape which allows an electric arc'to be produced with the aid of peripheral electrodes. For instance the furnace can be so arranged that the electric arcs are situated radially from the periphery to the center thereof. This is generally the case when the currents of air supplied to the furnace are directed radially. If, however, the air is directed at an angle to the radius, the electric arcs tend to assume the form of a spiral. In the case in which the furnace is provided with one or more insulated peripheral electrodes and air is blown tangentially into the furnace, the electric are springing from each insulated elec trode tends to assume a stationary spiral form. If on the other hand the furnace contain only one circular peripheral electrode extending all around the furnace, the arts which spring between this electrode and the electrode or part of the furnace which acts as the electrode situated at'or toward the center of the furnace assume a spiral form and at the same time continually rotate around the furnace, the velocity depending to a certain extent upon the angle and speed at which the air is supplied to the furnace.

The shape and dimensions of the furnace can be varied in any suitable manner, and can be adapted to the conditions under which the process is being carried out, for instance it can depend upon the tension and strength of the current, and upon the quality of air being supplied. The cross-section of the furnace can be either circular or oval or angular, and its height can be diminished so that the diameter is considerably greater than the height. The electric are or arcs can be started in any suitable manner, for instance according to the methods described tending from the center toward theyperiphcry of the furnace. The. electrode, or each of the electrodes, can be-connected to a pole of a source of electricity, the other pole being connected with one or more electrodes I situated at the periphery of the furnace.

The spirally formed electrode, or electrodes, should preferably possess such a form that the. current of air blown intothe furnace with a tangential motion flows practically parallel to the said electrode or electrodes.

In the case in which the furnace is provided wlthone circular electrode, the arc, or arcs is, or are, carried around bythe current of air, and the appearance to the eye is that of a disk of flame filling the whole furnace.

for instance it can be removed through one During the process fresh air is continuallysupplied from the periphery and the gases produced are continually removed .from'the center ofthe furnace where the inner ends of the electric arcs are situated. The manner in which the air can be removed from the center of'the furnace can also be varied,

or more openings either side by side or opposed to one another, say, one at thecenter of each of the disk-shaped sides of the furnace'. These openings can be provided with cooling arrangements so that the gases being removed from the furnace are cooled down. One method consists for instance in passing the gases immediately through the flues of a boiler; in this-way steam can be generated which can be used for various purposes, for instance for evaporating solutions. of nitrites and nitrates which qcan'be prepared from the gases leaving the fur nace. Another method of reducing the temperature of the gases which leave the furnace consists in blowing iii-cold air immediately after the hot gases have left the furnace.

hen carrying out the process of this in- Vention the electrodes can be situated in the openings through which the gas is introduced into the furnace, and they can be so formed that at one point they approach so near to thecenter electrode that should the arc'be extinguished for any reason it can be formed again of its own accord; or the electrodes can be connected with asolenoid coll and a spring 1n,.sucha manner that should the are be extinguished and consequently the electric current ceases, the electrodes are caused to approach the central electrode and then as soon as the arc has been formed the solenoid coil draws them back again to their right position.

Referring to the drawings which accompany this specification, Figures 1 and 3 rep-i resent vertical sect-ionsof furnaces; suitable for carrylng outthe process of our III-V611- tion, while Figs. 2 and 4. represent cross-sec: tions of F igs'l and33 taken along the line A ,B and C D respectively. 'Figs. 5, 6 and- 7 represent cross-sections of anotherform ofi furnace, Fig. 5 being a horizontal cross-section while Figs. 6 and? are vertical sections ther forms of furnace, and- Fig. 11 is ,a vertical section of Fig. 10 taken through the electrode a. i

In Figs. 1 and 2, R represents the furnace,

ated toward the center of the furnace and connected with the other pole ofthev source of electricity. Itis filled and supported by insulating material J.

Figs. 3 and 4 represent a form of furnace.- which is broader than it is deep. The parts shown are, however, similar to those 'in Figs. 1 and 2 and are similarly lettered.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the furnace is' provided with a circular peripheral 'eIectrode-ajand a central spiral electrode b, the former being preferably connected to ea'rthfand to one pole of a source of electricityfwhile the latter is connected to the other pole of the said. source of electricity. 0 is an. opening through which the air or other material which is to be treated in the are is intro-1 duced into the furnace with tangential motion and the spiral electrodeis preferably so arranged that it is parallel to the direction of =motion of the air which gradually ap proaches the center of the furnace andleaves through the opening 03 as shown by the arrows in Fig. 6.-

Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 represent furnaces in which the electrodes a are introduced at the periphery of the furnace, air being 'blown into the furnace past them, for instance through opening f shown in' Fig. 11, and after treatment in the arcs theair leaves throughthe opening d, of which the furnace in Fig. 8 has two, while thoserepresented in Figs. 9 and 10 have only sfli'le. On one side of the Wall opposed thereto are openings through which cold aircan be blown as in.- dicated'by the arrows for the purpose of cbolingthe products'o 'reactiomsjThe furnaces shown inFigs -S) andg-lodifi'erfrom one another in that in Fig. 9 the air remains in practically one plane "While t is in the furnace, whereas the furnaceshown in Fig. 10 is drawn "out sidewis'e so that the air movessidewise as well as spirally.

a taken at right angles to one another. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are cross-sections of three furof a current v so tially in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the are.

2. The process of producing continuous electric arcs by' stretching an electric are from an electrode situated at the periphery of a furnace to an electrode situated in proximity to the center of the furnace by means of a current of fluid, said current of fluid bemg so directed relatively to the arc, that it will flow through the furnace substantially in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the arc and removing ,the fluid from a point in proximity to the center of the furnace.

' 3. The process of producing continuous electric arcs by stretching an [electric arc from an electrode situated at the periphery of a furnace to an electrode situated in proximity to the center of the furnace by means the radius of the furnace, said current of fluid being so directed relatively to the arc, that it will flow through the furnace substantially in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the arc.

4. The electric arcs by stretching an electric arc from an electrode situated at the periphery of, a furnace to an electrode situated in proximity to the center of the furnace by means vof a current of-fluid directed at an angle to the radius of the furnace and removing the fluid from a point in proximity to the center of the furnace, said current of fluid being so directed relatively to the are, that it will flow through the furnace substantially in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the arc.

5. The process of producing continuous electric arcs by stretching electric arcs from a plurality of electrodes situated at the periphery of a furnace to anelectrode situated in proximity to the center of the furnace by means of currents of gas, said current of gas being so directed relatively to the arc, that it will flow through the furnace substantially in the same direction asthe longitudinal direction of the are, 6. The process of producing continuous electric ares by stretching electric arcs from a plurality of electrodes situated at the periphery of a furnace to an electrode situated in proximity to theoenter, of the furnace by means of currents of gas, said current of gas being so directed relatively to the arc,

that it will flow through the furnace subof fluid directed at an angle to processof producing continuousstantially inthe same direction as the longitudinal direction of the arc, and removing the gas from a point in proximity to the center-of the furnace.

7. The process of producing continuous spiral-shaped electric arcs by stretching electric arcs from an electrode or electrodes situated at the periphery of a furnace to an electrode situated in proximity to the center' of the furnace by means of currents of "gas directed at an'angle to the radius of the furnace, said current of gas being so directed relatively to the arc, that it will flow through the furnace substantially in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the arc.

8. The process of producing continuous spiral-shaped electric arcs by stretching elec tric arcs from an electrode or electrodes situated at the periphery of a furnace to an electrode situated in proximity to the cengas directed at an angle to the radius of the furnace and removing the gas from a point in proximity to the center of the furnace, said current of gas being so directed relatively to the are, that it will flow through the furnace substantially in the same direction as the longitudinal directionof the are. 9. An apparatus of the kind "described comprising a furnace provided with one or more peripheral electrodes and with an electrode situated at or near the center of the furnace and means for blowing air from the periphery toward the center of the furnace, said current of fluid being so directed relatively to the are, that it will flow through the furnace substantially in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the arc.

10. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a furnace provided with one or more peripheral electrodes and with an electrode situated at or near the center of the furnace and means for blowing air from the periphery toward-the center of thefurnace and means for removing the air from a in proximity to the center of the furnace, said current of fluid being so directed relatively to the are, that it will flow through the furnace substantially in the same direction as, of the arc. v

11. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a furnace provided with one or more peripheral electrodes and with an electrode situated at or near the center of the furnace and means for blowing air into the furnace from the periphery at an angle to the radiusof the furnace, said current of fluid being so directed relatively to the arc, that it will flow through the furnace substantially in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the are.

12. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a furnace provided with one or point the longitudinal direction ter of the furnace by means of currents Qt the furnace substantially in the same direc- 7 more peripheral electrodes'and with an electrode situated at or near the center of the furnace and means for blowing air into the furnace from the periphery at an angle to the radius of the furnace and means for comprising a furnace provided with one or more peripheral electrodes'and with spiralshaped electrodes situated in proximity to the center of the furnace and means for sup plying air from the periphery of the fur- Y nace toward the center th reof.

14. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a furnace provided with one circular peripheral electrode andwith an electrode situated in proximity to the center of the furnace and means forsupplying air into the furnace from the periphery thereof at an angle to the radius of the furnace,

said current of fluid being so directed relatively to the arc,'tl1at it will fiow through tion as the longitudinal direction of the arc.

15. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a furnace provided with one'cir; cular peripheral electrode and with an electrode situated in proximity to the center of the furnace and means for supplying air into the furnace from the periphery thereof at an angle to the radius of the furnace and means for removing the air. from a point 1n 0 proximity to the center of thefrurnace said' current of fluid being so directed relatively to the arc, that it-Will flow'through the fur- 40 nace substantially in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the are.

16. An apparatus of the kind described coniprisinga furnace provided with one or more peripheral electrodes and with an eleetrode situated in proximity to the center of the furnace. and means for blowing air from the periphery toward the center of the furnace and means for removing the air from a point in proximity to the center of the 5 furnace and means for cooling the gases. leaving the furnace, said'current of fluid being so directed relatively to the arc, that it will flow through the furnace substantiall in the same direction as the longitudinal d1 rection of the arc.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set ourhands in the scribing witnesses. I

F. A. wiELeoL s'KL OTTO SCI-ICNHERR.

presence of'two, sub- VVitnesses M. TULLORNSEN, N. PnDERsoN, 

